Trump Reschedules Cannabis, but What does that Mean?
President Trump signed an Executive Order today federally rescheduling cannabis. This directive will begin the transferring of the plant from Schedule I to Schedule III of the Controlled Substances Act (CSA).
Cannabis rescheduling is a step forward, but not justice. At SSDP, we’re fighting for full federal legalization and real repair of the harms caused by prohibition. That’s why SSDP is a founding member of the Cannabis Unity Coalition,the largest bipartisan coalition of cannabis justice advocates ever assembled.
While we support progress, we want decriminalization. No one should be in prison for cannabis, and rescheduling is not enough. Join us in the fight for legalization. Use our simple online tool to contact lawmakers to let them know that rescheduling is not enough.
- Cannabis is no longer officially defined as having “no medical value”
- Federal agencies (DEA, HHS, FDA) must treat cannabis more like a regulated medicine
- Researchers face fewer barriers to studying cannabis
- Some federal penalties ease, especially around sentencing and enforcement priorities
- Cannabis businesses may get access to tax relief like 280E reform if Schedule III applies
What it does NOT:
- It does not make cannabis federally legal
- It does not stop arrests.
- It does not legalize adult-use cannabis sales
- It does not automatically free people incarcerated for cannabis offenses
- It does not end federal prohibition
Use our simple Action Form to tell your lawmakers that cannabis reform cannot wait!
Urge them to support federal legislation that legalizes cannabis, frees the thousands of people still incarcerated for cannabis offenses, and begins the long-overdue work of healing the damage caused by more than a century of prohibition.
Together, we can turn progress into justice—and momentum into lasting change.
